Labour demands clarity over sentencing
VICTIMS and families are being let down by sentencing guidelines, says Scottish Labour.
Justice spokesman Daniel Johnson suggested changes should be made to the system to create a clearer policy on sentences.
Johnson said there is a lack of transparency over why certain sentencing decisions are made.
He added: “The current sentencing system is letting down victims and families.
“When someone is convicted of a crime, people expect the punishment to be appropriate but that doesn’t always happen and the public don’t get satisfactory answers.
“Victims and their families need a justice system where sentences are clear and understood.
“A start to that would be to accept the current approach has failed to produce transparency and consistency in sentencing.”
The Sentencing Council, which was set up to write guidelines for sentencing policy, has only produced one set of guidelines in three-and-a-half years.
Labour has suggested victims and their families need more support. The party has indicated it will raise the issue for debate at Holyrood this week.
The Scottish Government said: “We legislated to introduce a Sentencing Council to improve transparency and understanding of sentencing. It is a matter for the council how they progress their work.”